Cloth package and method of producing the same



y 3 1932- H. T. MARSHALL 1,860,812

CLOTH PACKAGE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME Filed Feb. 17, 1951 MT, W INVENTOR QWW'W A TTORNEY Patented May 31, 1 932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD 'r. MARSHALL, or WALPOLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR. TO 'riinxmnam COMPANY, or WALPOLE, massacnnsn'rrs, A CORPORATION OF MAssAoIrUsET'rs CLOTH PACKAGE AND METHOD OF PROD'U 'CING THE SAME Application filed February 17, 1931. Serial No. 516,369.

The object of this invention is to produce a package of cloth folded in such a manner as to simplify the operation of cutting a length of desired yardage from the piece and at the 5 same time to secure the other advantages hereinafter set forth. The invention is particularly applicable to lightfabric such as cheesecloth, butois not confined to such light fabrics. Fabrics are usually stocked in dry oods stores in bolt form, so that when a purc aser orders a piece of goods, the clerk unwraps the cloth from the bolt, measures the length desired and cuts it from the bolt. This entails considerable labor in handling and measuring, and also necessitates the maintenance of enough free counter for the handling of the bolt. Also frequently errors of measurement are madeg the customer receiving either too much or too little of the goods.

In packaging a piece of cloth in accordance with this invention the cloth is first folded longitudinally, i. e., on lines extending in the' direction of the len th of the strip, and then is folded transverse y, i. e., on lines extending across the strip, the transverse fold being of a length corresponding to the desired unit of measurement, for example, a yard orhalf a yar Referring to the accompanying figures, Fig. 1 represents a strip of 'fabric of an indefinite length whichis to be packaged in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 represents in pers ective on a larger scale the same goods after aving been folded longitudinally on the three longitudinal lines a, a (Fig. 1) so that the width of the cloth as so folded is' reduced to one-fourth of the full width of the piece, for example, to 9 inches in the case of goods one yard wide.

Fig. 3 showsin plan the longitudinally folded fabric and indicates at b, 6' lines at intervals of length corresponding .tothe de' siredunit of measurement, say one-half yard, on which the piece is now to be folded trans versely.

'Fig. 4 shows in section the piece-0f goods folded both'longitudinally and transversely in accordance with my invention, the top folds being shown in raised position.

space to give room' along the line of the counted.

folding of the Fig. 5 is aperspective view showing the manner inwhich ameasured piece of goods may be cut from a package folded in accordance with my invention.

The goods,packaged as described, may conveniently be displayed in and dispensed from a box or tray of suitable dimensions to accommodate the package.

It will be apparent that e'achzfold c of the goods as so packaged contains one-half yard, measured longitudinally, :of the full width fabric, and each double fold a, 0 contains one yard ofgoods; so that if a customer orders, say, two yards of the goods, all that the clerk need do is to count at the side of the package opposite the last out edge two folds (l and then cut them from the rest ofthe piece next transverse fold c which the folds were opposite the side-yon Thus all measurementby a yard stick or tape measure on the part of the clerk is avoided and, moreover, an accurately pre-measured quantity is delivered, avoiding errors either in favor of the customer or in favor of the seller. Any departure from accuracy by the clerk is plainly apparent for the out should always register with the line of folding.

Moreover. by'reason of the longitudinal goods, the length of the out which the clerk has to make is greatly reduced, and, particularly in the case of light fabrics such as cheesecloth, the cut is much more easily madeon the several thicknesses of goods than it would be made upon a single thickness. Also the line which the out should take isrdetermined by the fold at which it is made, so. that the cut is easily made straight.

The work of the clerk in packing the goods sold is also lessened by the use of my invention, since the folding is already done, in the main, andlittleadditional folding is required in order. to wrap up the parcel sold for delivery tothe customer.

Thus the labor of the clerk is lessened and his speed in handling the order'accelerated because it is not necessary to unwind the goods. from the'bolt, it is not necessary to rewind the goods on the bolt after cutting off the piece which has been sold, it is not necessary to spread out the piece for measurement nor to measure it, and thebperation of cutting offthe piece is made easier.

Moreover,

- as a whole is required in order to cut off the desired length of cloth, no space need be reserved on the counter for unwinding goods from a bolt and all available space can be used for display purposes. Adjacently placed goods on the counter remain fully displayed while a sale is being made from any particular piece.

Also, the reduction in dimensions of the package due to the folding saves space on the counter and makes it possible to display a larger variety of goods than would be practicable if the goods were packaged in the ordinary'manner. I

Also, the area occupied by the piece remains constant until it is completely used up, so that if the goods are displayed in a tray of size corresponding to the size of the package, the area of the tray is fully occupied by the cloth at all times, with advantages from the viewpoint of display. whereas if the cloth is wound in a bolt in the ordinary manner, a tray large enough to hold the full bolt is too large to be fully occupied by a fraction of a bolt.

Again, with my invention'is not maintained under tension, as is a fabric wound in bolt form, and, therefore, displays on the counter the normal appearance which it has in use, which is amaterial advantage in the case of some fabrics.

Finally, the packagingtof the goods in accordance with this'invention tends to preserve their freshness and cleanpess since no handling by the clerk is required.

I claim: w

1. A package of flexible sheet material in "web like form of substantial length, said material having at least onelongitudinally extending fold' effective to substantially decrease its width and said folded material having transverse folds effectiye to divi e itinto layers conforming to definitepredet rmined units of measurement indicated by the transverse folds; thelayers being arranged compactly one upon-the other.

since nohandling of the piece divide it further into layers conforming to definite predetermined units of measurement indicated by the being arranged a fabric packaged in accordance I effective to decrease its width, and to divide the material along its length into layers of substantially equal width, and said folded material having transverse folds effective to transverse folds, the layers other.

4. A package of flexible sheetmaterial in web-like form of substantial length, said material having at least one longitudinally extending fold. effective to substantially decrease its width and the aforesaid folded material having transverse folds whereby the cloth may be unfolded along the lines of the transverse folds without disturbing the lon- 'tudinal folds, said transverse folds being compactly one upon the' effective to divide. the material into layers conforming to definite predetermined units of measurement arranged compactly one upon the other in accordion formation.

HAROLD T. MARSHALL.

2. A package of flexible sheet material in i web like form of substantial length, said material'having at least one longitudinally extending fold effective to substantially decrease its width and said folded material having transverse folds effective to divide it into layers conforming to'definite predetermined units of measurement indicated by the 

